The Knocks performed a rhythmic and fun set paired with a beautiful arrangement of lights during a “private”, yet free show played outside of their current tour dates.

The Knocks are a New York City electronic music duo consisting of Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “JPatt” Patterson. They’re classified as an electronic/dance duo but take from Funk, Pop and Rock.

The Knocks are known for their single “Classic”, which was released in 2014 on Neon Gold Records/Big Beat Records and whose music video has reached over 3 million views on YouTube. The duo collaborated with Matthew Koma in 2015’s “I Wish (My Taylor Swift)” and with Wyclef Jean in 2016 for “Kiss The Sky.”

The concert location was set at Hickory Street Annex on Thursday, Aug. 24th, a two-story venue suited for private events.

Spectrum and Pandora sponsored this event for free for anyone’s enjoyment. It was not widely promoted so it reduced the number of people who showed up. Limited amount of people made it feel like a “secret” show, ultimately making the show feel more personal and better overall.

As I walked in I was greeted by a promoter who was handing out these colorful LED light up foam sticks that brought an ambience to the experience.

Walking up the stairs of the venue, a beautiful arrangement of light fixtures and lit up table pedestals seemed to be a hit amongst the guest in the venue.

Gilligan Moss, another dance/electronic music duo, took the stage as the opener.

They played an arrangement of beats that brought energy to the crowd and put everyone in the mood to dance. Hearing their set list was enjoyable despite never hearing them beforehand.

After eagerly waiting, The Knocks took the stage without any big entry and immediately began to jam out. The crowd began to gather around closer to the stage and smiled with enthusiasm.

Groups in the crowd closed their eyes, lifted up their arms and sang along while dancing with excitement.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the flow and good vibes from The Knocks. The group members made sure to give it their all by clapping along and extending out their hand to greet their fans.

The Knocks put on a great show full of energy while also giving a laid back, feel-good attitude.

I loved that one of the promoters was having as much fun we were, dancing along with the music.

Overall, the concert was enjoyable, fun and filled with energy. Anyone who enjoys electronic dance music should definitely check out these two duos. They may be relatively under the radars, but they have already showcased the ability to make successful music, and with concerts like the one on Thursday night, they’ll never lack committed loyalty from their fans.

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The Knocks performed on Aug. 24, at Hickory Street Annex,
in a free event sponsored by Spectrum and Pandora. Photo by Bryan Perez/The Et Cetera

Gilligan Moss members Evan (left) and Ben adjust their sound during their opening performance for The Knocks. Photo by Bryan Perez/The Et Cetera

Evan and Ben, who go only by their first names, join the crowd after their set to watch The Knocks perform. Photo by Yesenia Alvarado/The Et Cetera

The Knocks consist of Ben Ruttner (left) and James Patterson. Photo by Bryan Perez/The Et Cetera

The Knocks incorporate instruments like guitar, piano and drums to go along with their electronic style. The Knocks just released their new EP, Testify. Photo by Bryan Perez/The Et Cetera

The smaller crowd allowed for a more intimate experience at The Knocks’ show. Photo by Bryan Perez/The Et Cetera

Ruttner and Patterson met in New York City, where they shared an apartment studio and neighbors constantly knocked on their door to get them to quiet down, these experiences later contributed to their group name. Photo by Bryan Peres/The Et Cetera

The venue’s stage was small and had no barriers to separate the concertgoers from the artists, creating a more personalized performance. Photo by Yesenia Alvarado/The Et Cetera

Patterson engaged the crowd throughout The Knocks’ set. The duo opened for Justin Bieber during his Purpose tour. Photo by Yesenia Alvarado/The Et Cetera

The Knocks show was a free event sponsored by Spectrum and Pandora. Photo by Yesenia Alvarado/The Et Cetera